Havanna Travel

In this article we’re going to discuss just how important a college education really is today.

There was a time when, if you went to college, you could pretty much write your own ticket to success. A perfect example of this is back in the late 70s to early 80s when computers started becoming a part of business. True, they were crude in comparison to today’s models but they still had a function in many businesses. Back then, if you were just a college graduate you could be trained in the field of computers if that’s what you wanted. As a matter of fact, data processing was a common field for many math majors to go into.

Today, it is a different story. There are college graduates who can’t get jobs, let alone one in data processing because their field of major is not highly sought after. For example, political science majors have a hard time finding work unless they plan to go on to law school. Many end of working at fast food restaurants because that is all they can find.

The truth is, years ago, very few people went to college. Usually only the very rich or the very smart. A child who wasn’t all that bright wasn’t expected to go to college. He or she could easily go to a trade school and take up machine shop or auto shop and become a mechanic. For that matter back in the good old days a high school graduate with good grades could easily get a job at a bank or an insurance company and work their way up to manager within a few years.

Today, without a college education your chances of employment are limited at best. Today, everyone goes to college. Students who aren’t academically gifted are pushed through by programs like No Child Left Behind and there are many colleges for them to go to that are really no more than glorified high schools. The skills that they learn at these colleges are things that they should have learned in high school.

And therein lies the problem with today’s colleges. With affirmative action and no child left behind, college curriculums are watered down to accommodate the less academically gifted child. Thus, the college education itself just isn’t worth what it was years ago. Add to that the fact that college tuition is through the roof and even after getting a degree you’re not guaranteed to get a job, the benefits of having a college degree itself are just not what they were. Many students are left with debts that they can’t pay off because they can’t find work.

This is not to suggest that a student should not go to college. Certainly the opportunities for a child without a college degree are close to non existent. A student just needs to know that the piece of paper itself just isn’t worth what it used to be worth. A student needs to go the extra mile. A masters degree, which at one time was truly optional, is now pretty much a requirement. Also, a student should pick something that is going to be practical and in demand. Again, political science isn’t going to do it for you unless you plan on three years of law school after.

One of the things you will never learn in the average dojo around the world is that, no matter how often you train a certain “technique”, if it’s complex — if it’s not “monkey simple” — it will almost never work in a real life fight.

And this has nothing to do with your intelligence, either. You can be the smartest guy in the world, and you still won’t be able to pull off complex moves in a real fight.

Why?

Because when you get tossed into a stressful situation your whole body changes. There are natural bodily reactions which affect all of the systems in your body — including all your organs and chemical processes which keep you alive and breathing. Emotions and adrenaline rage out of control. And it becomes very difficult to think on anything but a primal, instinctive, “animal” level.

So what does this mean?

It means, if you’re trying to be fancy in a fight — trying to perform flashy kicks, strikes, throws or joint locks and manipulations — instead of using gross motor movements that are simple and fast — such as throwing an elbow to your attacker’s face or putting your knee into his testicles — you’re probably going to end up eating the pavement and getting beaten to a bloody pulp.

I’m not saying traditional martial arts won’t help you out. They will. But don’t bet your life on them. Don’t expect an attacker to fight like people spar and train in a dojo. It just doesn’t happen that way. People fight dirty on the street and there are no rules or respect for tradition.

Bottom line:

In a real fight, when your honor, your safety, your very life is on the line — focus on simple, non-complex motor movements that are easy to perform and require little or no thinking.

Leave the fancy stuff for the stunt guys in Hollywood.

What does homeschooling mean to me? It has become such an integral part of who we are as a family, that it would be difficult to analyze it separately. It truly has become our way of life.

Homeschooling means I spend more time with my children - all of them, not just the little ones. My older kids attended a “regular” school for several years before we started homeschooling, and I always felt out of touch with what was going on in their lives. We were growing apart, both figuratively and literally. Why has society accepted that parents should want to be with the babies and toddlers, but once the kids reach school age, we’re supposed to prefer to not have them around? I didn’t have children in order to send them off to spend their day with some other adult. I didn’t feel that way when they were born, and I don’t feel that way today. I deeply enjoy each and every one of my children, and I love having them with me every day.

Homeschooling means we are free to discuss our faith openly, and apply it to all areas of life and study. God is not relegated to only Sunday school, or even only Religion class. History is full of faith-filled people whose actions and ideas were directly related to their faith, including the founding fathers of our country. I really don’t see how one could teach about how America began without mentioning God. Science is in reality a study of God’s creation. How can one look at such an amazing world and not appreciate the Source of all? Writing and reading can include faith-related topics. When dealing with discipline issues, God and His teachings can be included in the discussions. It would seem unnatural for a person of any faith to spend their entire day forbidden to mention their God.

Homeschooling means I have an incredibly open and close relationship with my two teenagers. They will talk to me about anything, and are not embarassed to be seen with me or our whole family. We laugh together, and actually enjoy each other’s company. My sixteen-year-old daughter and fourteen-year-old son have become great friends to each other. They have not been made to feel that parents are irrelevant, or the enemy. More time together means we know each other much better.

Homeschooling means I know, and select, which books my children read and learn from. I am also aware of, and guide, the topics of discussion. I don’t have to wonder what “life lessons” they are picking up at recess, on the school bus, or even in class. I choose when they learn certain things, when they are ready (and it has been at a different age for each of them). I plan and direct their education, a level of involvement which is very important to me.

Homeschooling means my children can progress through their studies at their own pace. When they learn something quickly, they can just move on. When they need more time with something, we can slow down to make sure they master it. And I know right away when they need more help. Problems are not hidden until they become major issues; we can take care of them right away. I know and love my children better than anyone else, so their success is paramount.

Homeschooling means my older kids get to see the younger ones grow and develop. They were just as amazed to hear the youngest laugh for the first time as I was. Everyone is learning more about child care, and patience, and putting the needs of others ahead of their own. These are life skills that are important for anyone.

Homeschooling means a more relaxed daily schedule - OUR schedule - which results in less stress. Our day is flexible; we can schedule appointments at less busy times. We don’t have to get up before dawn to catch a bus at 6:50 am. I really don’t think anyone should have to be out of bed while it is still dark out.

Homeschooling means more free time to pursue other activities. We can finish a day’s work in less time since we don’t have to continually organize a classroom of 20 or 30 students, or spend time walking up and down long hallways.

Homeschooling means we can visit DisneyWorld during the off-peak times, instead of fighting crowds of people stuck to school vacation schedules.

Homeschooling means, on the other hand, living in a house that is never quite all clean. Having six children home all day, every day, creates more mess (especially in the kitchen), and makes it more difficult to keep up with the cleaning, laundry, etc. It doesn’t bother me as much as it did at first, because I had to set priorities. The education and growth of my children come first. They do help with chores, but not at the expense of schoolwork. Every couple of days, when I reach my limit, everyone takes a break and cleans up. But until they all move out, there will still be some mess.

Homeschooling means I can slow down and live in the present moment when necessary. I have grown to really appreciate the time I have with my younger children, taking a few minutes at any time to watch them take such joy in each new skill they learn. I definitely feel less rushed since we started homeschooling, and I am able to be there for each small, yet monumental moment in the life of a child.

Homeschooling means, in short, more time and opportunity to fully live out my vocation of motherhood.

[Please don’t misconstrue my words to imply that these things are not possible for anyone who does not homeschool. This has been a discussion of what homeschooling means to ME. Every family is unique; every family has their own path to follow in finding what is best for them.]